Reaction to Senate's inaction on Medicaid ranges from 'disgusted' to 'victory for Michigan taxpayers'

LANSING - Michigan lawmakers approved dozens of bills in the weeks leading up to its summer break. But a vote the Republican-led Senate didn't take is getting most of the attention.

The Senate adjourned on Thursday – possibly until late August – without voting on a plan to expand Medicaid through the federal Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. The lack of a vote leaves the plan in serious jeopardy.

The lack of a vote visibly upset Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who has advocated for the expansion that eventually could cover more than 400,000 additional Michigan residents. But the adjournment with no vote was hailed by tea party activists and some other conservatives.

Here are some of the reactions:

Gov. Rick Snyder: “I'm asking 10 million people to bug the living daylights out of their senator until they do something.” Snyder also said: "Take a vote, not a vacation."

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe: “I think it’s not really a responsible thing to say ‘take a vote, not a vacation’ when we are a deliberative body and are going to take a hard look at something.” Richardville said the proposal will be referred to a committee and a legislative workgroup will spend the summer reviewing the current legislation and possible changes. “The debate and discussion regarding reforming Medicaid in Michigan is not over,” Richardville said.

Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing: “I’ve seen a lot of disappointing things happen here in the Legislature, but today I’m absolutely disgusted to see my Republican colleagues walk away from their jobs for the summer without taking action on something as critical to the well-being of our state and our families as Medicaid expansion.We had an opportunity in front of us to provide health care access to nearly half a million Michigan residents and save the state hundreds of millions of dollars in the process, but apparently Republicans are going to allow the Tea Party agenda to get in the way of doing the right thing. It’s disgraceful.”

Scott Hagerstrom of Americans for Prosperity-Michigan: “I think Michigan residents get it. Nothing is free, and in the end they know they’ll get a bill. So this is a victory for Michigan taxpayers . This is a victory for limited government and economic liberty.”

Gilda Jacobs of the Michigan League for Public Policy: “This is utterly disappointing and shameful. While the Senate has gone fishing for the summer, hundreds of thousands of hardworking people in their districts continue to face a future without needed health care – and for no good reason.”

Rick Murdock, executive director of the Michigan Association of Health Plans (with the Michigan Expand Medicaid coalition): “We are disappointed the Senate has failed to pass or even allow a vote on this legislation, supported by business, health care and consumer groups, that would help reduce the hidden tax of uncompensated care cost shifting and bring health coverage and greater personal responsibility to 450,000 working men and women in Michigan. The strong bi-partisan vote for the legislation in the House, along with polls showing widespread support from Michigan voters for reforming and expanding Medicaid, had led us to expect a better result, or at the very least a simple up or down vote on the bill.”

Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton (who opposes the expansion under Affordable Care Act): “I ask my colleagues, when we renew this discussion over Medicaid expansion, that we instead focus on a discussion of access to quality care. After all, it’s time that we kind of get back to our roots. When we actually look at what actually works in regards to providing quality care, what actually works is a free market. What actually works is getting back to our founding principles that we started off with in our country. At the center of those founding principles is the idea of freedom and personal responsibility. I encourage my colleagues to renew a commitment to those fundamental principles.”

The Senate technically is adjourned until July 3. But there are no plans to take attendance or hold any votes until Aug. 27.